Biscuit was too good at stirring up trouble.
Watching Wing's face flicker between confusion and astonishment, Morrow sighed inwardly.
He hadn't mentioned Biscuit earlier precisely to keep Wing focused on the match.
Her showing up to spectate was entirely unexpected.
The best Morrow could do was pretend not to see her and quickly start the fight.
Who could've guessed Biscuit would pull such a stunt?
"Oh, so that's your master," Morrow said calmly. "But I don't know her. No need to overthink it, just focus on the match."
"Ah? So you really don't know her?"
Wing exhaled in relief.
He was well aware of his master's true age, which had made him hesitate earlier about whether to reveal the truth to Morrow.
"Yeah, not at all."
Morrow lied with a straight face while carefully observing Wing's reaction.
Wing nodded, his confusion and shock now completely gone, replaced by solemn determination.
He was ready for the fight.
As Morrow watched Wing's aura gradually intensify, he wondered: Are Enhancers really this simple-minded, believing even the flimsiest excuses?
Well, at least it didn't affect the match.
Just then, the referee stepped forward and announced as usual:
"The match follows a point-based knockout system! No time limit; a single decisive move can end it!"
After glancing at Morrow and Wing to confirm their positions, the referee took two steps back.
That retreat was like a starter raising his pistol, the trigger would be pulled any second now.
Having fought many matches at Heavens Arena, both Morrow and Wing understood the importance of timing. Instantly, they opened all their aura nodes, releasing their maximum aura output.
"Begin!"
The referee swung his arm and shouted.
The moment the word left his mouth, Wing's eyes sharpened. His aura erupted violently as he charged at Morrow like a raging bull.
Having observed Morrow's previous matches, Wing used his extensive Nen knowledge to deduce that Morrow's Nen type was Emitter.
So he decisively closed the distance at the start, aiming to minimize the gap as quickly as possible.
But Morrow also knew Wing was an Enhancer. The instant the referee called for the match to begin, he used Gazelle Steps to leap backward, instantly creating distance.
Such a quick counter… Was my intent too obvious?
Seeing Morrow forego his usual opening move, True Tiger Bite Fist, and instead immediately create distance, Wing was slightly stunned.
In every match Wing had watched, Morrow always started with True Tiger Bite Fist, then adjusted based on his opponent's reaction.
Wing had planned to exploit this pattern to seize the initiative.
Yet Morrow had suddenly changed tactics.
This made Wing suspect Morrow's "perception" and "reactions" were simply too sharp, that he had read Wing's intent in an instant through aura flow.
Morrow had no idea about Wing's split-second thoughts.
Even if he had, he would've only marveled at how this was the hallmark of the Shingen-ryu Style.
Instantaneous burst thinking.
A concept Biscuit had once mentioned in the original series, likely a fundamental skill of the Shingen-ryu Style and a prerequisite for mastering Spirit Echoes.
Above Lv. 50, but the gap isn't too wide.
Retreating to the edge of the ring in one swift motion, Morrow took advantage of the distance to quickly assess Wing's aura output level.
The Shingen-ryu Style emphasized mental cultivation, but through this process, a Nen user's "Four Major Principles" and "Nen output" would also significantly improve over time.
The drawback of this training method was likely its lack of practical combat experience, focusing solely on continuous cultivation.
Yet its advantage lay in its exceptionally solid foundational skills.
For the first time, I feel how effortless "gazelle" can be.
Watching Wing charge straight toward him, Morrow remained calm, reflecting on the sensation he'd just experienced while using "Gazelle Steps"…
His body felt incredibly light, and when exerting force through his ankles, he no longer needed to allocate excessive amounts of aura.
This was the result of improved physical strength and coordination.
After removing the weights, I feel like I could float like a feather.
A faint smile touched Morrow's lips.
For the past month, whether during daily training or ring matches, he'd always worn weighted gear.
But for this duel, Morrow had shown Wing the utmost respect by removing his weights before the match for the first time.
Thus, when using Gazelle Steps earlier, he immediately experienced all the benefits of his stronger, lighter body.
"True Tiger Bite Fist."
Setting aside all irrelevant thoughts, Morrow assumed the Tiger Bite Fist stance. As aura surged, a Nen construct shaped like a snarling tiger's head lunged toward Wing.
Yet Wing showed no intention of retreating, sidestepping to avoid the charging tiger head Nen construct.
Ignoring the construct that had just brushed past him, he continued his charge toward Morrow.
This clearly signaled his intent to close the distance and engage in close-quarters combat, a scenario that favored an Enhancer.
He's definitely watched my matches, more than one.
From Wing's decisive actions, Morrow discerned this fact.
Having already confirmed his Nen type and understanding that the extended Tiger Bite Fist Nen construct prioritized control over destructive power, Wing had no need for preliminary probing nor any concern about the construct's lethality, allowing him to charge forward fearlessly.
Yet in such moments, simply employing a Nen ability "beyond his opponent's intel" could instantly turn the tables, giving Wing a harsh lesson about human treachery.
Unfortunately, Morrow had never planned to use either "Starlight Convergence" or "Deceptive Shooting Star" from the outset.
Morrow's gaze remained fixed on Wing as his right hand, positioned low, moved almost imperceptibly.
Another Tiger Bite Fist Nen construct, its presence erased by "In", streaked across the ground toward Wing's lower body.
Yet Wing seemed to sense it, instinctively gathering aura around his eyes.
"Gyo."
Aura flared like flames across his pupils.
Spotting the approaching Nen construct, Wing still refused to slow his charge.
"Ryu."
In an instant, a portion of his aura rapidly flowed downward to his legs.
Wing's objective remained unchanged: leveraging his Enhancer advantage to break through Morrow's defenses head-on.
Morrow, who had been closely observing Wing, immediately noticed his use of "Ryu."
Both the reflexive Gyo and this rapid Ryu application were scenarios Morrow had already anticipated.
Why?
Simple.
He believed in Wing's strength. That was all.
Just as Wing was about to kick apart the tiger-headed Nen, Morrow flipped his tiger-paw stance early, manipulating the Tiger Bite Fist directly into the arena's stone floor.
Boom!
The Nen exploded.
The resulting shockwave shattered the stone slabs, sending debris flying and kicking up a cloud of dust. Wing's kick met only air, his eyes narrowing slightly as he abruptly halted his momentum against the incoming dust and rubble.
"Behind!"
In the next instant, the not-too-thick dust was dispersed by a surge of air, the Tiger Bite Fist Nen that had initially dodged now returned like a coiled viper striking back. Wing remained calm, effortlessly recalling the excess aura concentrated in his lower body before twisting his waist and delivering a straight punch toward the approaching Tiger Bite Fist.
Yet, at that very moment, the ferociously returning Tiger Bite Fist suddenly dissipated. Morrow had severed the aura sustaining it, sacrificing a portion of his aura output to render Wing's punch futile while simultaneously disrupting the balance of Wing's offensive and defensive aura.
At the same time, Morrow, having replenished his aura to its maximum, had already closed in behind Wing, stepping into attack range.
One visible, one concealed; two Tiger Bite Fists, attacking from front and back in a pincer maneuver.
All to create this very opportunity?
Wing, with his back to Morrow, remained utterly composed, showing no trace of urgency despite the impending strike.
Because this was precisely part of his counterplan.
The moment Morrow redirected the Tiger Bite Fist to strike the ground, Wing had immediately recognized it as setup for the next assault. Thus, he deliberately placed himself in danger, feigning an opening to lure Morrow into attacking.
The result matched his expectations.
Wing's confidence in this bait stemmed from his trust in his own refined Nen techniques and the offensive-defensive advantages of his Enhancer affinity.
He was certain he could withstand Morrow's strike from behind.
After that, the perfect counterattack opportunity would arise, perhaps even a decisive victory.
In that split second, Wing spun around, adopting the Enhancer's signature Ken stance as he met Morrow head-on.
But...
The expected attack never came.
"Huh?"
Before Wing's eyes was only the afterimage Morrow had left behind using Rhythm Echo.
The next instant, Morrow, having circled behind Wing with Rhythm Echo footwork, bent his arm and drove a devastating elbow strike into Wing's back.
Thud.
The aura concentrated in Morrow's elbow carved a ripple across Wing's back, accompanied by a dull impact as a jellyfish-shaped shockwave burst forth.
The tremendous force sent Wing flying through the air.
Morrow, tilting his body slightly, glanced sidelong at the airborne Wing before swiftly straightening his arm and channeling the excess aura from his elbow into his palm.
"True Tiger Bite Fist."
His hand formed a claw, propelling the aura outward in an instant release.
A tiger-headed Nen shot through the air, overtaking Wing mid-flight and striking him squarely.
Boom!
The Nen detonated on impact, unleashing a violent surge of energy.
Wing, struck by the blast, plummeted like a broken kite toward the ground outside the arena.
Another thunderous crash followed. The ground was directly smashed into a crater by Wing, sending up a cloud of dust.
On the arena platform.
Morrow calmly gazed at the spreading dust.
The lightning-fast exchange of offense and defense instantly plunged the entire venue into silence.
The referee quickly reacted, raising his hand to announce, "An outstanding attack! Contestant Morrow scores two points."
The solemn declaration echoed through the venue.
Then, the referee swiftly descended from the platform, rushing to Wing's landing spot to assess the situation.
Whoosh!
The slowly drifting dust was suddenly stirred by a surge of air.
Wing's figure burst through the dust, passing the referee as he strode back toward the platform.
His mouth was smeared with a large amount of blood, clear evidence that he had forcibly endured the damage.
The referee observed Wing's condition and, confirming he was unharmed, sprinted back to the platform from the opposite side.
At the same time.
"Contestant Wing launched a fierce assault but carelessly left an opening! Contestant Morrow seized the chance to strike from behind, securing the first two points!"
The commentator's excited voice blared through the loudspeakers, shattering the abrupt silence in the venue.
Immediately afterward, cheers erupted from the audience.
Many spectators, flushed with excitement, roared wildly as if possessed.
—--
Front row of the spectator stands.
Biscuit had already shot to her feet, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at the figure on the platform.
Her reaction was hardly surprising.
After all, the strength Morrow had just displayed completely overturned her previous impression of him.
Aura intensity, Nen techniques, bodily coordination, precision in footwork, Martial Artist-style power application…
All the flaws she had once clearly seen in Morrow had now been significantly improved and refined.
But the problem was...
Less than three months… How is this possible?!
Even someone as experienced as Biscuit couldn't help but be stunned by the "progress" she had just witnessed in Morrow.
Because she was both a seasoned Martial Artist and a Nen user, she understood better than anyone just how unbelievable this was.
No matter how terrifying a person's talent might be, it was impossible for them to excel in every aspect in such a short time.
Especially with something like Nen, a power that demanded time and effort to cultivate. You could refine techniques quickly, but you couldn't advance everything simultaneously.
It was like eating; you had to chew one bite at a time. Only after swallowing what was in your mouth could you take another.
Yet Morrow seemed to have multiple mouths, capable of consuming far more than others in one go.
If it had just been improvements in aura intensity and Nen techniques, Biscuit wouldn't have been this shocked.
What truly baffled her was that, on top of refining his aura and Nen techniques, Morrow had also achieved a staggering level of progress in his body's power application.
In less than three months.
Even if he trained nonstop without sleep, correcting poor power application habits alone would require a Martial Artist to invest an enormous amount of time and effort.
And yet, Morrow's power application had already reached a point where even the finer details showed no major flaws.
Just how did this guy do it?!
Biscuit's eyes widened.
She was so astonished by Morrow's multifaceted growth that she barely registered the tactical prowess he had displayed during the exchange.
The venue's director knew how to play it up, promptly cutting the camera feed to Biscuit's stunned face. On the massive screen, Biscuit's stunned face suddenly appeared.
"?"
Snapping back to reality, Biscuit quickly suppressed her inner turmoil and swiftly switched to a coy expression. Covering her face with both hands while shaking her head, she squealed, "Darling, you're amazing~!!"
"???"
The nearby spectators, witnessing Biscuit's schizophrenic-like switch, couldn't help but be filled with question marks, beginning to doubt the authenticity of Biscuit and Morrow's romantic relationship.
Could she just be some crazy, obsessed fan?
Those standing closer could only cautiously observe the drama queen that Biscuit had become while awkwardly shifting their positions to distance themselves from her as much as possible.
—--
On the fighting platform.
Unlike Biscuit, Wing was more focused on how Morrow had managed to detect his every intention.
It was as if Morrow could see through his thoughts and counter them precisely.
Steadying himself, Wing wiped away the blood and stared intently at Morrow, asking, "How did you notice? There shouldn't have been any flaws in my strategy."
"In an accumulated points knockout match, there's no Q&A segment."
Morrow calmly regulated his aura throughout his body, his words implying:
I have no interest, nor obligation, to analyze and explain things to you during a match.